Pharmacy staff are facing abuse from angry customers desperate for lateral flow tests this Christmas amid shortages, it is reported.
Alastair Buxton, director of NHS Services at Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) said that “powerless” staff are having to tackle customers demanding the tests which aren't available due to the supply problem, reported the i.
Lateral flow tests are unavailable in parts of the country and the huge demand means that some shops are running out of kits within hours of opening.
Mr Buxton told the i: “Due to a daily cap imposed by Test and Trace, pharmacies are powerless to order more tests than they already do, so we would ask for patience with pharmacy teams if they have run out – they are all trying to get more stock in as quickly as possible.”
Several days this week, including Friday, the government’s website suspended home deliveries despite new government rules making lateral flow tests necessary for people without double vaccines to enter some venues.
Revellers keen to head out this Christmas have also been blamed on social media for hoarding lateral flow tests.
The PSNC has said it is worried about pharmacy staff being abused.
It stated: “Although pharmacies are still receiving daily deliveries of tests, in many locations, these are very rapidly being used up. We have asked for pharmacies to be able to order additional stock… but this is apparently not possible – so pharmacies have no way to order tests beyond their usual daily cap, and no plan B if their local distribution centre is out of stock.”
Social media users have blamed selfish behaviour for the shortages.
One woman wrote: "This is what we're dealing with. No lateral flow tests are available because the young are hoarding them so they can still go clubbing."
Another wrote: "We've ran out of Lateral flow tests as well. So somebody has been hoarding them," and another admitted: "I have a cupboard full of LFT's as have been hoarding them over the summer ready for winter variant."
